Stevensville adopts clearer meter-reading policy; residents press for better notice on unread meters

The Stevensville Town Council adopted Resolution 457 to formalize billing when meters cannot be read during a billing cycle: customers will be billed the monthly base rate, which includes 3,000 gallons, and once an actual meter reading is obtained the customer will be billed for total usage since the last reading less any previously billed base rate gallons. "Meters read end of each month. If the meter reading cannot be obtained under regular billing cycle, the customer will be billed monthly base rate, which includes 3,000 gallons of water," the council read aloud while reviewing the resolution.

Several residents and council members urged the town to provide clearer advance notice when a meter read fails because the subsequent bill can show a large usage jump (one example used by speakers was a shift from 3,000 to 9,000 gallons). Staff said the unread status will appear on the bill and that system and staffing constraints limit other notification options, but councilors asked staff to explore additional outreach (door hangers, local newspaper notice or targeted calls) and to report back on feasible options.